by AR Colbert
“What will they do to him if they find him?”
“Kill him.” Anasasha shrugged. “But don’t worry—there is no reason for them to suspect you and Sean. I made sure to clear our tracks thoroughly.”
Peter was a jerk, but he didn’t deserve to die. I made a mental note to try and locate him before the Atlantean guards did. Maybe I could get him to Porta Maris with Driskell.
“Thank you,” I said after a beat, “for helping us out of there.”
“You’re the one who deserves the thanks. Just don’t let me down.”
We crossed over into the park and waited as a small group of teenagers passed on the sidewalk, giving us a wide berth to avoid the enormous dogs we had with us. I waited until I was sure we were alone again before dropping my voice to a near whisper and continuing the conversation.
“So you said all the royal families would be in attendance at the convention, right? Including the Agarthian family?” My heart picked up at the thought of Tate. I hadn’t seen him since before we left for Porta Maris. He’d been tied up in some family affairs in Agartha.
“Yeah, everyone got into town yesterday.”
“Yesterday?” Why hadn’t he called me yet? Rasputin’s warning about Tate working against me flashed through my mind, but I shoved the thought away. If Tate was working against me, he never would have helped Millie turn my aura blue. But why hadn’t he reached out?
“Is something wrong?” Anasasha lifted her delicate brows.
“No, I just think I realized what my next step should be. But I need to get into the convention. Is there any way you can get me on the list?”
“I don’t think so. My mother would definitely not approve of me adding you to our group—no offense. But maybe Millie can find a way to get you in.”
It was last minute, but it was worth a try. Tate had promised before he left to keep an eye out for the missing piece of the tablet in Agartha. I had to see him.
Chapter 3
“My hands are tied Everly, I’m sorry.” Millie frowned and squeezed my shoulder. “But I will be sure to keep an eye out for anything suspicious. I’ll try to find out where Rossel ran off to, and I will definitely let you know if I hear anything about your mother. I miss her, too.”
“I understand.” I picked out a necklace from Millie’s jewelry box and passed it to her as a finishing touch for her outfit. She was sitting on some kind panel at the convention today, so I wanted her to look her best, even if they wouldn’t allow me in.
She’d explained that due to high security concerns, they limited the attendees to those who were absolutely required to attend. Though, I didn’t see how Gayla and Dom would have made the list if it weren’t for Gayla’s father. Unfortunately, he couldn’t do anything for me as an Atlantean.
A soft knock sounded at Millie’s bedroom door. “You ready?” Devon called out through the crack.
Millie rubbed a fresh coat of bright pink lipstick onto her mouth and smiled. “Now I am.” He cracked open the door and entered with a wide grin as he took in his much-older soulmate.
“Are you sure I can’t just get Devon to teleport me in there?” I asked.
“They cast wards over the entire convention center,” Devon said. “I can’t even teleport us in there. All powers are rendered useless inside those walls.”
Millie rolled her eyes. “It’s Baerius’s favorite trick. That man loves to make others powerless at any chance he gets.”
“Baerius as in King Baerius of Olympus? Rossel’s boss?”
Millie nodded. “Yes. And like I told you, I’ll find out where Rossel is if I can. But there’s no way he will show up at the convention after that report we filed on his cronies who ransacked my study.”
“Right. Well be careful, just in case. Oh, and Millie? Will you please ask Tate to call me if you see him there?” I added as an afterthought.
“I will. We’ll see you tonight at supper, okay? I’ll bring you all my notes.” She crossed a finger over her heart.
“Thanks, Millie. I’ll see you then.”
I waited a full five minutes before pulling out the bag I’d stashed under my aunt’s guest room bed, and I changed into black pants and a long sleeved white button up-shirt. I didn’t actually know who would be catering the event, but I’d watched enough TV shows in my life to guess that this was probably the caterer’s uniform. Now I just had to get over to the convention center before the rest of the crew started without me. I was going to be the newest addition to their staff—they just didn’t know it yet.
I was about two blocks away when a familiar voice called out in my mind. You’re a little overdressed for a casual morning stroll, don’t you think?
Without slowing, I turned my gaze upward to scan the window sills and balconies of the buildings that surrounded me. I wasn’t sure how much distance could be between us for Al’s mind to mind communication to work. And I really wished I could communicate back without speaking out loud.
I’m on the streetlight up ahead, just waiting for you to turn around and go back home.
I found him, perched casually on the light as if owls commonly hung out in Manhattan. Meeting his yellow eyes, I shook my head softly.
You’re not seriously going to try to break into the convention, are you? That’s a horrible idea. They will know immediately that you’re not on the list, and if you’re not careful, you’ll get yourself put on a different list instead.
I ignored him, picking up my pace as I passed his little perch. He fluttered up ahead, talking silently into my mind again.
By different, I mean bad. Like hit-list kind of bad.
I shrugged and picked up into a jog.
Everly, seriously. Stop. You’re obviously not a human, and no one is going to let you in when they see your aura—even if it is blue. How do you expect this to go down?
I didn’t care how it went down. I just had to get closer to the action. If I couldn’t actually get into the building without getting caught, then I’d hang out outside until they all left. They couldn’t arrest me for hanging out on the street.
Of course, I still wasn’t sure what exactly I was looking for. All I knew was that every Keeper leader was going to be in attendance, and they held any chance at getting the rest of the missing pieces of the tablet. And if I happened to run into Tate while I was there… Well, that would be okay, too.
Are you really just going to ignore me?
“Yup!” I said aloud, not caring who might overhear. I’d just spotted the catering van pull down the alley behind the convention center, and I wasn’t interested in listening to the dire warnings of an owl anymore. It was show time.
I jogged across the street and waited for people to begin unloading from the vehicle before trotting around the corner. “Whew!” I wiped fake sweat from my forehead. “Looks like I made it just in time. I would hate to be late for my first day of work!”
Two guys and a girl stood outside the van wearing similar clothes to my own, though theirs had a company logo embroidered on the shirts. One of the guys furrowed his brow. “Who are you?”
I stepped up and extended my hand. “I’m Everly. The boss thought you might need some back up with the big event today, so I was asked to start right away. I hope you guys don’t mind showing me the ropes?”
“Where’s your apron?” the girl asked, noting my empty hands.
“Shoot! I knew I forgot something. Is there an extra I can borrow, just for today?”
“I’ll look,” the first guy said. “Follow me.”
I turned briefly to flash a smug smile at Al, but he was gone. The others got back to work while the boy walked around to the back of a second van already parked in the alley. He opened the doors and made no effort at small talk and he rummaged through a couple of boxes sitting in the back. The rest of the staff was already carrying chafing dishes into a back door of the building, and I was itching to catch up to them.
The door was wide open. It would be so easy for me to just slip inside.
Unless, of course, some of the wards Devon mentioned were designed to stop those of us who weren’t on the list. Maybe Al was right. I shifted on my feet at the realization. What would I do if some kind of magical alarm was set off by my mere entrance into the building?
Some shuffling near the door drew my attention away from the van. “Sorry,” a familiar voice said. “Pardon me… excuse me… oh, hellllooo.”
The catering girl gawked at the tall handsome man who had just clumsily bumped into her. Tate winked and then slinked out of the door, trotting a little deeper into the alley away from where everyone was working.
“I’ll be right back,” I said to the boy who still hadn’t found me an apron. “Tate!” I whisper-yelled his name as I neared the spot where he’d stopped, sleepily resting his head back against the wall. He opened one eye. “Hey. Why haven’t you returned my calls?”
Never changing his casual stance, he grinned. “Sorry babe. I’ve been busy with work.”
Babe? I took a step back. “Are you okay?”
“I am now that you’re here.” He winked at me.
I glanced over my shoulder, half-expecting to see Gayla with a camera, ready to laugh at another successful prank. But we were all alone other than the catering crew who seemed to have forgotten about me.
“What happened down there?”
“In Agartha?” He lifted his brows, seemingly a lot more interested in the conversation now.
“Yeah.”
He thought for a minute before the corner of his mouth pulled up into a half grin. “I’ll tell you, but it’s gonna cost you.”
I had no idea what had gotten into him. A million thoughts rushed through my brain. Had they drugged him? Was he under someone’s glamour? Did Agartha simply bring out a different side of him?
“What’s it gonna cost?”
His smile widened. “A kiss.”
I knew he wasn’t acting like himself, and yet the word still made my heart leap in my chest. “You’re joking right?” A nervous giggle escaped me.
“Nope. Not joking.” He stepped forward and reached for my hand, rubbing his thumb gently across the back of it before pulling me a little closer. We were nearly touching when he looked down at me with half-lidded eyes. “What do you say? A kiss for my secrets?”
He dropped his chin toward me, and common sense said to push him away. But common sense couldn’t put up much of a fight with a face that pretty. It was only then that I began to feel that familiar faint buzz that simmered between us. It was different somehow, though.
Tate slid one hand behind my head, his fingers gently weaving into my hair as he lifted my face to his. My heart raced as he closed the gap. Something wasn’t right.
“Titus!”
Tate dropped his hands, and we both spun toward the voice. The electricity dancing across my skin intensified, and I realized the figure sprinting across the alley toward us was… Tate.
I looked back and forth between the two Tates. “What in the world is going on?”
“That’s what I was about to ask,” the new Tate said. The tingly buzz was out of control as he approached, pulling me into him. This Tate—the new one—was the real Tate. No doubt about it.
“Who are you?” I turned back to the man I almost kissed.
“That’s Titus. My brother.”
Chapter 4
Titus put two hands in the air with a laugh. “Sorry man. I haven’t gotten to play Thaddeus in years. I couldn’t resist. Especially with such a willing member of your fan club.”
My cheeks heated. I couldn’t believe I actually almost kissed this guy. What a jerk.
Tate frowned, avoiding eye contact with me. “You need to get back inside before they lose their minds.”
“You always ruin my fun.” Titus pouted.
“Go. I’ll meet you in there in a second.”
He hesitated with a look that told me he wanted to challenge his brother’s command, but eventually Titus turned back toward the building. I waited until he was all the way back through the doors before spinning toward Tate. “How have you never mentioned you have a twin?”
“Nice to see you, too.” Amusement flashed across Tate’s eyes, and even that had my heart swooning in a way his imposter brother never came close to triggering. Maybe Titus was right. I’d forgotten how big of a fan I was of Tate.
I punched him playfully on the arm, causing a pleasant zing where my skin contacted his. He looked down as though he felt it too, but neither of us mentioned it.
“I’m serious,” I said, suddenly feeling more emotional than the situation called for.
“I’m sorry. I can see why that might have been a shock to you. I never thought to mention it because I never expected the two of you to meet. You knew I had a brother and I guess his appearance wouldn’t have made any difference to you before now.”
“I thought you had an older brother…”
“He is older—by eight minutes. And since I was born after midnight, technically we have two different birthdays, too.”
I shook my head. “That’s wild.”
“I know. Who would have thought that a mere eight minutes would change the future of Agartha…” Tate grew serious again as he focused on me. “What are you doing here with the caterers?”
“Uh… definitely not trying to sneak into the convention.”
“Right.” Laughter shone in his eyes again. “And definitely not against the advice of all your friends.”
“Not all my friends have been answering their phones to give me advice.”
Tate ran a hand through his hair. “I feel like that was a jab against me.”
“You’re very perceptive.”
“I didn’t know you’d called. They took my phone.”
“What? Why?”
He looked over his shoulder. “Things are a little shaky in Agartha right now. There’s a certain part of our population who isn’t very happy with some of the decisions my father is making in regards to his heir.”
“Titus?”
Tate nodded. “He doesn’t always make the best, uh… life decisions. In fact he’s high as a kite right now on soma. So understandably, many Agarthians don’t think he’s fit for the job of king. And I guess my father’s personal council has advised him to keep me close and cut off from anyone who may try to convince me to stake my claim on the throne. So they took my phone.”
“Do you even want the throne?”
Tate shrugged. “I don’t want to be king. But I don’t want to watch Agartha implode because my brother is too busy looking for his next hit to lead the territory, either.”
“That’s rough. I’m sorry.”
Tate forced a smile. “I didn’t mean to unload all that on you. It’s nothing you should have to worry about.”
“Actually I do. I’m the Deliverer, remember?” I took a showy bow. “At your service.”
Tate touched his fingertip to my lips and I thought I might melt into a puddle on the concrete. “Shh. You never know who’s listening around here.” He dropped his finger again and my lips were cold without it.
I wanted to touch him again, but I couldn’t find any reasonable excuse for it. So I resorted to awkward humor instead. “You’re right. That catering crew might be staging a coup as we speak.”
He laughed, glancing down at my attire. “You know the Olympian guards inside would have had you pinned against the wall the moment you stepped foot into that building.”
“Not once they tasted my goat cheese stuffed olives.”
“I’m not sure how to respond to that.”
“Maybe it’s best if you don’t.” I wrinkled my nose, clamping my mouth shut before I started rambling about Jack Sparrow and trampolines again.
“You know there’s nothing interesting that ever happens at these events, right? It’s just the three races pretending we’re all friends by sharing surface level data about what’s going on in our territories. There’s nothing useful. They keep their real secrets to themselves.”
>
“I know,” I admitted. “I’m just tired of sitting around and waiting on the sidelines. I’m ready to take action. And if I can get any kind of clue in here about where to go next, it’ll be worth it.”
“Are you sure?”
I nodded.
“Alright. Everly Gordon of Atlantis, I am officially requesting your assistance as a member of the royal Agarthian staff. Will you accompany me at the Annual Convention of the Keepers?”
“Agarthian staff?”
“We’re not permitted to bring guests. But being royal has its perks. I can assign you a role on my staff.”
“Is it permanent?” I remembered the Olympian guard I’d seen down in the prison of Atlantis. He could never leave.
“No. Not unless you request asylum in Agartha. This is just a one time thing.”
“If you’re sure… then yes. It’s gotta be better than this alley. Besides, there’s a lot that has happened since the last time I saw you. Is there a safe place we can talk inside?”
“I’ll see what I can find. But first I have to attend a couple of meetings. You’re welcome to join me, if you want. You’ll need to look a little less like a caterer, though.” He pulled my hair from my ponytail and ruffled his fingers through it, shaking out the waves as it fell to my shoulders. His fingertips on my scalp gave me ten times the goosebumps I got from a shampoo at my hairdresser. The touch was somehow both warm and tingly cool, and I never wanted it to stop. I was a bit breathless when he pulled his hands away.
We locked eyes, the gold flaring slightly in his amber colored irises, and I could feel that invisible thread pulling me ever nearer. Tate was gonna be trouble for me if I wasn’t careful. I looked away, snapping the connection. “Let’s get inside.”
We walked slowly back toward the convention center, and I was acutely aware of how closely our hands swung with each step. It was like a magnetic pendulum, and I had to stay focused to prevent my fingers from reaching out to his as we moved together.
“This isn’t the first time I’ve heard of soma. With that and ambrosia and the other myriad of substances I’ve heard mentioned on campus, I’ve gotta ask: do Keepers have a problem with addiction?”
